Day in Rock Report for 12/20/2012

Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins has been charged with conspiring with a woman to rape a one-year-old child and other crimes, according to Gigwise.

Watkins appeared in magistrates' court in Cardiff Bay yesterday (December 20th) where it was revealed that he is facing six charges relating to sexual offences against two young children, reports BBC.

He faces one charge of conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a child under 13 and four child pornography related charges.

A 24-year-old woman faces the same charges as Watkins and a 20-year-old woman faces all the charges except conspiracy to rape.

On Tuesday, South Wales police named Watkins in a statement about the charges: "A Pontypridd man has been charged with sexual offences against children and is due to appear at Cardiff Magistrates' Court today.

"The 35-year-old has been charged with conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a female under 13 and possession/distribution of indecent images of children.

"In order to assist their investigation, South Wales Police has named the man as Ian Watkins, a member of the rock group Lostprophets."

Former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted is giving fans their first taste of his new self-titled band with a stream of his new single, "Soldierhead."

The song was released digitally on iTunes and will be featured on Newsted's debut four-song EP "Metal," which will be released on January 8th on the music service.

Newsted used social media and fans to announce the EP release. As we previously reported he sent out a graphic of a hand-written note with details about the release, the fans then posted it on their Twitter accounts and Newsted retweeted their posts.

Newsted was interviewed on the 'Friday Night Rocks' radio show last month about his new band and why he decided to simply call it Newsted and his open-ended vision for the musical direction of the group.

He told the show this about the band name, "I've thought about this for a long time, putting my name on a project other than just coming up with a clever name, like Echobrain or Papa Wheelie or something. We have a lot of cool names for projects, but this is the first time with my name and really trying to get out to the people that I played for by the millions in the past with Metallica."

He also spoke about the musical direction from the new group, "Whatever it ends up being  if it's five songs, 20 songs, 50 songs I don't even know what the heck I'm gonna do. I have so much music from over the years. I have a bunch of new stuff I'm just trying to figure out exactly what I wanna unleash on everybody first. That's kind of what it's coming down to  the timing of things and how I wanna hit people with it."

"I'm about 15-20,000 words from being finished," Taylor said. "Book two should be turned in the next few months and hopefully get out by summer."

He also explained what the book's topic will be. "The working title is A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Heaven, and it's basically my experiences with ghosts, which I know is going to freak a lot of people out," he explains.

"It's just about the things I've seen, the places I've lived, telling some of my friend's stories, because it seems like everyone either has a ghost story or desperately wants one."

Nightrage will be reuniting with former frontman Tomas Lindberg for a single performance at the Gothenburg Sound Festival on January 5 at Trδdgεrn in Gothenburg, Sweden.

The band's current singer Antony Hδmδlδinen explains, "So, as some of you may already know, the band has been selected to play the Gothenburg Sound Festival in January. Unfortunately, due to some scheduling conflicts I was unable to resolve, I will have to miss this show. It will be the first Nightrage show in six years that I will miss and it completely sucks!

"This festival's lineup is of legendary proportions (Ceremonial Oath, Gardenian). But fear not I am proud to announce that we are going to just tack one more to that list of legends for our friends and fans in Sweden. That's right, the one and only Tomas Lindberg will be helping us for this one-off show. And it's safe to say I am jealous as f**k not to see this take place. I have also seen the setlist for this show, and let me tell you, no one will be disappointed."

Lindberg appeared on Nightrage's first two albums (2003′s "Sweet Vengeance" and 2005′s "Descent Into Chaos").

(hennemusic) Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi has joined The National Guitar Museum's board of advisors.

As an advisor to the National Guitar Museum, Iommi will add his insight and experience to the museum's mission to promote and preserve the legacy of the guitar.

While he is known worldwide for classics like "Iron Man", "Paranoid" and "Heaven And Hell", Iommi has also spent much of his career looking for ways to improve guitar technology and make the guitar more playable.

"I welcome the opportunity to be part of the National Guitar Museum's goal to highlight the history of the guitar  the instrument that has been part of my life since I was a teenager," said Iommi. "There is so much more to the guitar than six strings and a slab of wood. Everything about it is fascinating, from how it is crafted to the legion of people who have played it."

(Gibson) Slash's new Facebook app is the world's first fully integrated 360-degree video platform, broadcasting a fully interactive performance of the guitarist's single "Standing in the Sun."

Users can watch from different vantage points and choose between multiple synchronized camera views as well as being able to rotate and zoom in and out in real-time.

Mativision's partnership with Slash has already seen a similar app released for iPhone. Slash says: "I think the 360 application definitely takes the listener into the world of the musician so that you can actually be in the room where the artist is recording or in a live situation where you can be all around the stage and behind the stage and it just gives it a lot more depth and it really sort of puts you in the world of what the artist is doing."

Druyor had this to say: "After Caleb and AJ decided that they would no longer continue on with the band, I was asked if I would like to join and make a new record with them. I said yes to both. The decision was very easy to make due to the fact that we've been friends for almost the entire duration of both our bands' careers."

Shomo also commented about leaving the group and told fans about his new group, Beartooth: "So as you all have heard and the internet somehow revealed before i got the chance to, as john announced last week, i have also left AA. Technically i have been out of the band for about three months now, but the guys wanted to wait to announce until they had everything lined up with the new guy which i had no problem with. Honestly me and john have very similar reasons for leaving (if you all got the chance to read his amazing farewell message.)

"I have horrible clinical depression and have for years. as you may have heard from my speeches i gave during about the last 6 months or so of my touring career with AA i have been suicidal since middle school. I've struggled on and off with eating disorders, self image problems since i was announced as the frontman a few years ago, and various substance abuse and addictions for about the past year. Having thousands of people tell you your a "fat piece of sh*t" isn't exactly the easiest thing to deal with at 17, and i could imagine ever. I am very scatter brained and just kinda am ranting so deal with me for this being so all over the place.

"I love all of the guys that have ever been involved in AA. Great dudes, very supportive as well. Starting about a year ago i started to really go into a downward spiral mentally. Having panic attacks, mental breakdowns, cutting myself off from the world for weeks at a time, writing insanely depressing songs, not too fun. I had a lot of stress in my life/demons haunting me and in no way wanted to face it head on and deal with it. As you may have guessed this doesn't help problems in the least.

(Gibson) Neil Young's quest for a new online music service and digital player is gathering pace. Pono, his forthcoming service, will feature high-resolution master downloads of songs. Young's company has now made federal trademark applications for a pair of slogans  "Pono Promise" and "21st Century Digital."

Young Tweeted earlier this month that Pono will roll out the service's cloud-based music-library component and portable digital-to-analog players by summer 2013.

During an interview with David Letterman in September, Young said he was "negotiating with Sony" and working on transferring albums including The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan and Highway 61 Revisited for Pono. And Young is very serious about this: Bloomberg BusinessWeek reports that he and Pono raised $500,000 investment in November.

In the past, Young has been critical of the MP3 / AAC formats and before that, even CDs. But Pono will be hi-res. Some reports suggest that, on average, a five-minute song on Pono would require 300MB of storage space.

Pathology have reunited with singer Matti Way and guitarist Tim Tiszczenko after parting ways with Jonathan Huber and Oscar Ramirez.

The band had this to say: "Pathology is happy to announce the return of singer Matti Way and long-time original guitarist Tim Tiszczenko. Both members Jon and Oscar are no longer with the band. Pathology would like to thank them for there time and efforts.

"This is now the prime Pathology lineup from the Age Of Onset, Legacy era. We are very excited for this change, We will now have the best of both worlds with a mix of the old and new.

"Pathology is already working on new material for a late 2013 release. The band has also completed there 3 album commitment to Victory Records and will be open to new options."

Hell or Highwater, founded by Atreyu drummer Brandon Saller, will be releasing their debut album and hitting the road with The Darkness next year.

The band have set a February 5, 2013 release date for their debut album, Begin Again. The band features Saller on guitar and vocals.

Begin Again will feature 11 tracks, including the forthcoming single "Gimmie Love" and "Go Alone" (featuring M. Shadows from Avenged Sevenfold), as well as three bonus tracks, "Pretty Penny," "The Boxer" and "Tragedy" (Villain Remix).

Saller comments "We are excited to announce that we have partnered with the Chicago based record label, Pavement Music for the release of our debut album Begin Again. 2013 promises to be a big year for Hell Or Highwater. We're excited to be a part of the Pavement Music family."

Hell or Highwater will be hitting the road for a North American tour with The Darkness in January, which kicks off January 10th in Ft. Lauderdale and wraps up in Aspen, CO on February 2nd.

(OP) The Zappa Family Trust and Zappa Records are offering up the unprecedented opportunity for Zappa fans to license their very own copies of Roxy By Proxy by Frank Zappa with The Mothers of Invention.

They will also be provided with liner notes and packaging artwork so they can duplicate the CDs to sell at any price they choose, with a $1.20 per CD mechanical royalty to be paid back to Zappa Records. The opportunity is valid now through December 28.

Interested fans/participants can sell as many copies of the album as they'd like at the retail level, as official licensed distributors for the Zappa Family Trust. They can also give CDs away as gifts. All the details can be found here.

Proceeds from this unprecedented opportunity are being used to complete the long-awaited film The Roxy Performances--recorded December 10, 11 and 12, 1973 in Los Angeles and released in part on 1974's Roxy & Elsewhere CD--for eventual theatrical release and on DVD. According to the ZFT, "You are the ones who want it and you are the ones we need to help us make it happen! This is also a big Thank You to all the fans that are ready willing and able to participate in the ultimate adventure of distributing this record. We are gratefuland we are hopeful that you will show us how to do it better than it has ever been done before."

Shine Australia and Seven will begin the filming for the new TV mini-series "Never Tear Us Apart: The Untold Story of INXS" in Melbourne in 2013. We were sent these details:

"Never Tear Us Apart: The Untold Story of INXS" will concentrate on the six members of the band and the artistic and emotional relationship at the heart of INXS, that of Michael Hutchence and Andrew Farriss. It will trace their incredible rise to the top of the international charts - ten albums, thousands of concerts, the unforgettable, headline show at Wembley stadium and the bitter aftermath of dealing with the loss of Michael Hutchence. It promises an authentic, behind the scenes look at what really happened - childhood mates from Sydney who were once the biggest rock and roll band in the world - beyond the music, the lights and the roar of a sell-out crowd.

Executive Produced by Mark Fennessy and Rory Callaghan with CM Murphy, the band's highly talented manager as Co-Executive Producer, "Never Tear Us Apart: The Untold Story of INXS" will have full access to the INXS archive of music, photography and stories. Aside from the drama and appearances by actors playing Kylie Minogue, Helena Christensen, Bono and Paula Yates, the remarkable music of INXS will be at the heart of the series. From raw beginnings on the northern beaches of Sydney to 100,000 fans at Rock in Rio and the tragic news of Michael Hutchence's death in 1997, "Never Tear Us Apart: The Untold Story of INXS" will relive some of INXS's most seminal moments. And the viewer will be front row centre.

Mark Fennessy said: "This is a truly special project for us. There is no doubt the life of INXS is a compelling and extraordinary one and together with our partners Seven Network, Screen Australia plus contributions from Chris and the band we will tell the real story - true to the phenomenon, to the era and of course to INXS with all the very best and very worst moments. It will be an emotional, uplifting, must see television event for INXS fans and the Australian public alike"

CM Murphy said: "The world has been begging for this story to be told for decades, so to be able to work again with my friends Brad Lyons at Seven and Shine's Mark Fennessy, gives me great comfort - knowing only the highest quality will hit the screens. Like with all things INXS, I look forward to creating television history - it is going to be a wild and exciting ride!"more on this story

(OP) Turbogeist have set a March 12th, 2013 North American release date for their new 'Ancient Secrets' EP. (UK release on March 11t).

Co-produced by the band and Chris Sheldon (who has previously worked with Pixies, Radiohead & Foo Fighters, amongst others), Ancient Secrets was recorded at Livingston Studios in North London, and will be available as a digital download plus a limited edition vinyl 10".

Inspired in part by Apocalyptic times, Ancient Secrets includes five ripping tracks, with man's stuttering evolution at the core of the action; the featured songs include "Mermaid's Revenge" (about our ill-fated attempts to conquer nature), for which a video has recently been filmed, and "Zero Friends'"(society's slow death by social networking).

Before the release, Turbogeist will be hitting the road with Pure Love (former Gallows frontman Frank Carter and ex-Hope Conspiracy & Suicide File guitarist Jim Carroll) for a 14-date UK tour which kicks off on February 6th.

The Veer Union has launched a new Kickstarter campaign to fund thier upcoming EP, 'Life Support Part 1'.

The band is offering several donation packages to assist in covering expenses for the forthcoming EP, due out early 2013.

"The music industry is changing rapidly, but I personally think companies like Kickstarter are paving the way for real artists to have careers by closing the gap between bands and their fans, making it possible for careers to flourish and bands to continue doing what they love," said Earl.

"This is why The Veer Union needs your help NOW more than ever. We have started recording a brand new EP called 'Life Support Part 1.' This record is going to be the most special to me because it is a record made possible by the fans, for the fans, as you are our 'LIFE SUPPORT' and could not do it without you. We can't wait to see you all out on tour in 2013."

To help fuel the Kickstarter campaign, The Veer Union has released a lyric video for a brand new song "The World I Wanted" here. "The World I Wanted" features a completely revamped The Veer Union lineup and is available for purchase as part of the Kickstarter campaign.

"I have written and recorded a brand new song called 'The World I Wanted' with the new members of the band," added Earl. "This song depicts the depression and personal struggles during the last six months after finding myself on my own."

Fans can learn more about the Kickstarter campaign via a special video message from vocalist Crispin Earl here. Or visit the campaign page

Last Call are giving fans a free download of their holiday song "The Duke's Real Name Was Marion Morrison".

The band says, "We originally wrote 'Duke' for Punks In Vegas' 2011 holiday compilation. We decided that we wanted to release it proper this year, and we recorded it in my basement and sent the tracks to our good buddy Paul Miner to mix and master.

"After a very long year, we'd like to thank everyone who's supported us and our new record. It's been a great way to close out the year and bring in the new. Happy Holidays from Last Call." You can download it here.

The band will be playing a hometown record release show for their new album, Dog Years, on Jan. 5th at the Knight Hall in Las Vegas.

The show will feature support from Caravels, Heart to Heart, Stickup Kid, The Letter You, Alaska and Dreamcatchers.

Century Media have set a February 18th European and February 19th North American release date for Death Wolf's new album, II: Black Armoured Death.

Besides the Danzig-influenced material in the vein of the songs on Death Wolf's self-titled debut album, fans can also expect II: Black Armoured Death to cover a wide musical spectrum that will surely be worth a listen for every fan of dark sinister punk rock with a metal edge.

Death Wolf will also be releasing a new 7", Bloodscent, this month. Featuring different arrangements of two tracks on II: Black Armoured Death, this limited 7" will be hand-numbered and pressed on white wax-- and only available at CM Distro and on the road this February/March on Death Wolf's tour with Marduk, Moonspell and Inquisition.

(OP) Arise As Kings has announced that they have changed their name to Left Behind.

The band had this to say about the name change, "We have a few reasons for this change. First of all, we have grown so much and matured a great deal in the past year and a half of being a band, to the point where Arise As Kings no longer fits our music, our mindset, or us anymore. We also wanted a fresh, brand new start. A new chapter of our music and of our lives."

The band is offering fans a free download of their newest single "Haunted."

The band's next single "No Forgiveness" features Jordan Bradley (aka Bone) from Embracer.

The group is currently finishing their first EP as Left Behind with Brette Ciamarra at Studio 344 in late January, and releasing a music video shortly afterwards.

Paganland have set a March 4th, 2013 international release date for their new album, Wind of Freedom.

We were sent this background on the band: Paganland was founded in 1997 by Ruen and Bilozor in Lviv  one of the most beautiful Ukrainian cities, whose developed traditions incorporated the European cultural spirit of the last millennium, and every stone breathes with centuries-old history of decline and revival, wars and temporary rest.

The natural mysticism hidden in the Carpathians' greatness, the dense woods, and pure mountain sources could not but affect musicians with a pagan outlook.

Therefore, Paganland's debut demo Gods of Golden Circle (1999) and the demo Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors (2004), one way or another, had been nearly related to pagan metal.

The line-up changes, routine of rehearsals, and hardships of concert activity caused Paganland's breakup in 2005, but three years later, the group re-formed and in 2011 recorded the first full-length album, Wind Of Freedom, having resumed their concert activity.

Today acclaimed guitarist James Williams tells us about the title track to his brand new album "Eclectic Shred". Here is the story:

Eclectic Shred song was written with my drop c secret open tuning. It is a tuning I have used threw the years I have never herd anyone else use this tuning.

The style in which I composed the song is as diverse as the whole cd and the definition of the word Eclectic. So I incorporated allot within the composition musically, with special guest Mike LePond of Symphony X played the bass on it and Matt Guillroy of James Labrie did a killer keyboard solo at the breakdown development section. I played the rest of the keyboard pads with the string arraignments threw out.

It is a prog power metal fusion song that I named the title track of the cd. It has melody, plenty of shred instrumentation and groove elements with odd time meter.

It should satisfy the music thirst of all prog instrumental fans of Al Dimeola, and jazz to metal heads that like Dream Theater, Symphony X, and want guitar virtuoso music with structure and melody line than just thrown together rhythms with lead guitar over it.

Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen for yourself and learn more about the album

(hennemusic) Whitesnake TV has offered up a video featuring David Coverdale reading the holiday classic, "The Night Before Christmas."

"A Visit from St. Nicholas", also known as "The Night Before Christmas" and "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" from its first line, is a poem first published anonymously in 1823 and generally attributed to Clement Clarke Moore, although the claim has also been made that it was written by Henry Livingston, Jr.

A few months ago, Coverdale revealed that Whitesnake are working on some projects that will see the light of day next year, including a live album and a separate in-concert DVD from the Forevermore world tour, plus special expanded editions of "Into The Light" and "Restless Heart."

Dire Straits' Mark Knopfler is the special guest on the latest two-part episode of InTheStudio which explore two of the band's classic albums, Making Movies and Love Over Gold.

It started in 1980 with Making Movies , a Top 20 album, their third, produced by current Interscope Records Chairman and American Idol mentor Jimmy Iovine and featuring the song "Skateaway", soon to be an MTV classic as well.

By 1982, Mark Knopfler would take over the production duties and deliver Love Over Gold , featuring a 14 minute epic "Telegraph Road" along with the Top 10 rock track "Industrial Disease".

Mark shares with InTheStudio program host Redbeard that moment when the song is no longer your own. "When you realize that different songs are being used in people's lives, when they tell you it's become 'theirs', the song has finally becomes theirs. And so what they think of it becomes something you don't want to spoil. I get pleasure from the fact people use the music to live with."

Eckerman is a concert tour manager and he was handling Lynyrd Skynyrd around the time of the release of their Gimme Back My Bullets album. In Turn it Up! (a reference to the beginning of Sweet Home Alabama) Eckerman reveals that he didnt really want the job - Read the full Turn it Up review